Folding toothbrush



May l5, l 923.

G. E. W. MILLER FOLDING TOOTHBRUSH Filed April 16. 1919v Patented Mayl5, 1923.,

GUSTAVE E. W. MILLER, 0F BOTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

romaine @corr-innesti.

Application lecl April 16, 1919.` Serial No. 290,456.

To all 'whom t my concern:

Be it known that I, Gusfrixvn E. W. MILLER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Boston, in the county `of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Folding Toothbrush, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a tooth brush casing, adapted to hold a toothbrush in such a manner that it can be folded inside the casing, forpermitting it to be carried inthe pocket readily.

The principal objects of the invention are t0 provide a constructionwhich will be sanitary and will occupyl very little space; to provide animproved clasp and hinge therefor, and more specifically to provide aconvenient form of detachable connection by which the tooth brush may besupported on the casing while in use and firmly held in the properposition when it is folded inside' the casing. This is so arranged thatit is contacted by the engaging walls of the casing and cover to firmlyhold the brush in position, when in use.

The invention also involves improvements in other details ofconstruction including the particular construction of the casing andcover itself, the means for hinging the parts together and locking themtogether in closed position.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 isa side view of a preferred embodiment of this invention, showing thebrush in one position for use;

Fig. 2 is a back view of the same;

Fig opened with the brush shown in the casing in full linesandprojecting therefrom in dotted lines in position for use.l in the samelocation as that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same with the parts shown ina differentposition;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line of Fig. 4, showing themeans `for connecting thev casing with the cover;

Fig. 6 is a side view like part of Fig. 3, enlarged; f l

Fig. 7 is a view showing parts in section and illustrating in dottedlines how the brush c-an he detached from the pivoted link and casing,and

Figs. 8 and 9 are a plan and inside view respectively of a modication.

The invention is shown a form in with each other. 3 is a view of thecasing and coverV bored out to afford a passagerfor thepin.

in this way the two parts are pivotally oonnected together along thewhole of the short side.A and this ensures the closing of the partstogether alwaysin they same position, bef,y cause the hinge isof such anature that it is not likely to get out of place. 1

`The casingand cover are of a general rectangular shape but with anextension 14 at one end.k The extensions on Vthe two parts register witheach other and tend to` contract at the end to form a passage 15 for theshank of the tooth brush as will appear. lt may be noticed at this pointthat both the casingand cover are provided with a pair of studs orprojections 16 located inthe contracted end portion in alignment witheach other.

Prefer-ably on the interior of the casing there is located a lbracket 20which supports a pivoted link 21 passing through it, and having, twoarms extending upwardly parallel with each other on opposite sides ofthis bracket. These arms are provided with separated converging ends 22in alignment This is for" detachable connection with 'thetooth brushshank 23, which is provided at the end and on each side with a pair ofopposite shallow grooves 24 for receiving the ends 22. At the ends ofthese grooves are two opposite depressions 25 into which the ends 22enter when the parts are pressed fully into position. Thus the ends 22constitute a pivot on which the shank 23y is mounted and by which it .isconnected with the casing. The shank is also provided with twodepressions 26 on each side for receiving the studs 16. The object ofthis connection is to'` cause the studs to enter the sockets and steadythey, tooth brush shank in the casing when the casing is closed and thetooth brush is eX- tended as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The position of the brush vwhen the casing is to be closed is indicftdin Fig, `Bin full lilies. The brush is supported in the casing b v itspivotal connection With the link 21 and if the brush is used in theposition shoivn in Fig. 1 it need not be detacher from this connectionwhen it is to be folded in the casing, but if it is to be used in theposition shown in et, which is most convenient for many people, thebrush has to be removed from the pivoted link 21 and reversed in orderto enclose it in the asing. T his can be done, in the manner indicatedin dotted lines in T by simply pulling on the brush. rlhis releases theends 22 from the notches or depressions 25 and allows the enns to slidealong the. grooves as the shank is 'ivitlulraivn- Then it is reversedand put back in position in a. similar manner.

It is to be noticed that when the brush is folded back in the positionshown in full lines in Fig. 3, and the cover closed, the

'converging edge Walls of the casing and cover come into contact withthe link 21 and hold it in position, so that the brush is held not onlyby the studs 16 but by these links. Therefore, it Will not wobble in thecasing or come into such position that its bristles Will engage theivalls of the casing.

lt is to be noticed that have provided a fastening device in the form ofa hinged clasp 2T having side flanges 28, that come down over the boxand cover when it is folded down into closed position. This ispreferably inset into the box and cover byv providing depressions 29 inthe course of manufacture.

1n Figs. 8 and 9 l have shown a modification in which the pivotal linkprojects through notches 30 in the edges of the casing` and cover, whichclamp it solidly when closed.

1t is to be observed therefore that this device is firm and solid inconstruction, holding` the brush securely in either folded or projectedposition, so as to prevent any movement of the brush relative to thecasing. This forms a receptacle Which is entirely closed at all pointsbut properly ventilated and firmly held by the hinge and clasp.

Although l have illustrated and described only one form of the.invention7 li am aware of the fact that modifications can be madeAtherein by any person skilled. in the art,

without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in theclaims, therefore 1 do not Wish to be limited to all the details ofconstruction herein shown and described, but

lilhat l do claim is:

1. ln a folding tooth brush, the combination with a casing, of a movablelink connection pivoted therein,n and a tooth brush pivotally connectedwith said link connectionand readily detachable thereiroinu in a foldingtooth brush. the combination with a casing, of a link pivoted therein,at a distance from the end of the casing, and a tooth brush shankpivotally mounted on said link and readily detachable therefrom.

3. .ln :folding tooth brush, the combination with a casing, of a linkpivoted therein at a distance from the end of the tooth brush, and atooth brush shank detachably and pivotally mounted onsaid link, saidlink having yielding projections in alignment extending toward eachother and the toothbrush shank having oppositedeprcssions for receivingsaid projections.

1n a folding tooth brush, the combination ivith a casing, of a linkpivoted therein having yielding projections in alignment extendingtoward each other, and a tooth brush shank having opposite depressionsfor receiving said projections,y said projections and depressions beingalike on both sides so that it is reversible.

5. in a folding tooth brush, the combination with a casing, of va linkpivoted therein having` yielding projections in alignment extendingtoward each other, and a tooth brush having a shank provided withy tivoopposite longitudinal grooves in its end for receivingl the projections,said grooves terminating in tivo opposite depressions s o that the shankcan be pivotally and detachably connected to the link.

6. in a foldingtooth brush, the combination vcith a casing and a coverpivotally connected together, said casing and cover having a 1reducedend, of `a pivotal connection therein having separated ends intransverse alignment, and a tooth brush detachably connected with saidseparated ends, and having its end located in the reduced end, the Wallsof which engage the separated ends of the pivotal connection to helphold them in position and prevent detachment of the brush.

7. ln a folding tooth-brush, the combination ivith a casing, of a linkpivoted thereto. and a tooth-brush shank pivotally mounted on said link,said link having opposite yielding projections in alignment extendingtoivard each other and the tooth brush shank having-.oppositedepressions for receiving said projections. i

8. 1n a folding tooth-brush, the combination with a zasing, of a linkpivotally mounted therein,` and a tooth-brush shank pivotally connectedwith the link and detachable therefrom by pulling it in any directiondirectly away from the point of pivotal support of the link.

9. A folding tooth-brush casing comprising tivo right and left partspivotally connected along one straight side and having a reduced endaffording (a passage formed,

by the tvvo parts for receiving a toothbrush shank, said shank andreduced end 1,454,938 Y Y B having opposite symmetricalinter-engagswinging means permanently connected to ing projections anddepressions for locating one of said parts and extending within it f andsteadying the tooth-brush in said pasfrom the end for positively holdingsage and means independent of said prothe shank against longitudinalwithdrawal 5 jeotion and depressions for pivotally conwhen it is held`loetween the two parts of 15 neoting the'brush with the casing. thecasing.

.10. In a folding tooth brush, the eomhi- In testimony whereof I havehereunto nation with a two-part `casing and brush, alixed my signature.

said two parts of the easing-having means 10 for holding the shank ofthe brush, of GUSTAVE E. W. MILLER.

